Based on the research goal of "traditional Chinese medicine standards lead in the international standard-setting", scientific strategies for the elaboration of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) comprehensive quality standard system were introduced. TCM is a complex multi-component system which was used under the guidance of traditional Chinese medical theory. The present paper has put forward the basic principle of " deep research and simplified standard" to construct the quality standards of TCM. " Deep research" refers to systematic, thorough investigations on active constituents and biological mechanisms. On the basis of deep research, "simplified standard" means to establish a scientific and feasible standard, which should be practical and less complicated, to control the quality of Chinese herbs. Three key issues related to the elaboration of the quality standards are suggested. For reference substances, we propose the research methodology using reference extract to develop the qualitative and quantitative determination methods. Compared with that of using reference compounds, the preparation of reference extract is more accessible, economical and practical. Moreover, compared with reference crude drugs, the reference extract showed better batch-to-batch consistency. For identification, in addition to conventional methods, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), chemical fingerprints and characteristic chromatogram are proposed, in which more major marker compounds are monitored. And then LC-MS technique is employed to comprehensively analyze and characterize the peaks in the fingerprint. For multi-component quantification, the method of single standard to determine multi-components (SSDMC) is suggested, providing solutions for the lack of reference standards in quality evaluation. The SSDMC method uses a single reference standard to simultaneously determine the content of multiple compounds. In general, the integrate quality control standard of TCM is established based on combining innovative technology with practical applications.
Chemistry Techniques, Analytical ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; standards ; Quality Control ; Reference Standards

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) contains a big array of chemical constituents. These constituents un-dergo various metabolic reactions to produce complex in v iv o metabolites. Identification and distribution of these metabolites are important to reveal the effective constituents from a complex formulation. Recently, developments had been made to elucidate the complex metabolic process. In this review, we summarized the methods and strategies developed for TCM metabolism. Application of these metabolic results has also been discussed.

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents of the flavonoids from Sophora tonkinensis.

METHODThe compounds were isolated by chromatography on silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 column and identified by spectroscopic analysis.

RESULTEight compounds were isolated and their structures were identified as tonkinochromane I (1), glabrol (3), lupinifolin (2), tonkinensisol (4), 8-C-prenylkaempferol (5), 7,2'-dihydroxy-4'-methoxy-isoflavanol (6), formononetin (7), and genistein (8), respectively.

CONCLUSIONCompound 1 was a new compound. And compound 6 was firstly isolated from the genus Sophora. Compounds 2, 3 and 5 were isolated from S. tonkinensis for the first time.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Flavonoids ; analysis ; chemistry ; Genistein ; analysis ; Isoflavones ; analysis ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Sophora ; chemistry

Proteasome is a multi-subunit protease complex in eukaryocytes, and plays an important role in ubiquitin-proteosome pathway. Recombinant proteasome can be used to screen proteasome inhibitors. In this study, recombinant plasmid of pET28a-PSMB1 was constructed by inserting human proteasome catalytic subunit (PSMB1) cDNA (726 bp) into the prokaryotic expression vector pET28a(+), and transforming the plasmid into E. coli BL21(DE3) cells for expression. After overnight induction (1 mmol/L IPTG, 20 degrees C), an expected protein band with molecular weight of 27 kDa was observed on SDS-PAGE gel. The recombinant protein was then purified through affinity chromatography, and the purity is more than 95%. The amino acid sequence of the recombinant protein was validated by NanoLC-MS/MS. The data from in vitro BIAcore analysis showed that the recombinant PSMB1 could bind to celastrol. The binding affinity between PSMB1 and 10 micromol/L celastrol was more than 27RU.
Binding Sites ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Humans ; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Proteasome Inhibitors ; isolation & purification ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; metabolism ; Triterpenes ; metabolism ; Ubiquitin

ObjectiveTo explore the characteristics of balance and cortical activation in older adults when performing cognition-balance dual tasks. MethodsFrom January to April, 2023, 20 healthy older adults were non-targeted recruited. They completed six tasks of close eyes & fixed platform (CF), close eyes & fixed platform & cognitive task (CFc), open eyes & sway-referenced platform (OS), open eyes & sway-referenced platform & cognitive task (OSc), close eyes & sway-referenced platform (CS), and close eyes & sway-referenced platform & cognitive task (CSc) on the Balance SD, wearing functional near-infrared spectroscopy caps. The overal stability index (OSI) was measured with Balance SD. The premotor cortex (PMC), sensorimotor cortex (SMC) and prefrontal cortex (PFC) were as regions of interest (ROIs), and the β values were calculated. ResultsThe OSI was more as CFc than as CF (Z = -2.014, P < 0.05), and was less as CSc than as CS (Z = -2.063, P < 0.05). The β values of bilateral ROIs were all more as CFc than as CF (|Z| > 2.464, |t| > 3.733, P < 0.05), and as OSc than as OS (|t| > 2.308, P < 0.05); the β value of the right SMC was more as CSc than as CS (t = -2.912, P < 0.05). The number of correct counts was less as CSc than as CFc and OSc (|Z| > 3.643, P < 0.001). ConclusionBalance has been impaired under dual tasks for older adults, while activation of cerebral cortex increases. However, for more difficult balance task, older adults would preferentially maintain postural balance under dual tasks, while cognitive performance decreases, which may be the results from no more activation of cerebral cortex under dual tasks.